From staff reports
 |  Pensacola News Journal

The Florida Board of Governors has announced all State University System of Florida institutions will postpone fall commencement ceremonies due to COVID-19 concerns. 

As a result, the University of West Florida’s in-person fall 2020 ceremony scheduled for Dec. 12 will be held virtually. 

UWF invites all friends, family and faculty members to celebrate the milestone via social media. 

The university will provide all graduates an opportunity to participate in a future in-person ceremony once it is cleared to safely schedule the event. 

Additional information will be shared when it becomes available. 

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Melissa Brown
 
| Pensacola News Journal

Mashed potatoes with butter, cheese and a lot of love. 

That’s what Mercy Chefs’ Molly MacDonald thinks many people need after a natural disaster like Hurricane Sally. 

And that is what Mercy Chefs have given to Pensacola residents, through more than 25,000 individual meals prepared and handed out since Sept. 18, each a warm, weighty take out container passed into the hands of neighbors in need. 

Pensacola Bay Bridge: 3 Skanska barges still stuck under Pensacola Bay Bridge, repair timeline unknown

Hurricane Sally: Escambia County opens family CARES Act grant applications Friday. Who can apply:

Hurricane Sally: Pensacola oyster farmer says Skanska barge smashed through farm, ruined 800,000 oysters

Thursday marked the nonprofit’s final day in...

Jim Little
 
| Pensacola News Journal

An earlier version of this story had the incorrect number for the total amount of funding for the family grant program.

After a week’s delay, Escambia County residents who earn less than $45,000 a year will be able to apply for $2,000 grants starting Friday if the COVID-19 pandemic has financially impacted them. 

Hurricane Sally: Escambia County gets ‘major disaster’ declaration. What does this mean for residents?

Pensacola Bay Bridge: Ferry service planned for ‘period of months, if not a year’ as Pensacola Bay Bridge is out

Initially, 1,750 families were expected to be awarded $2,000 grants based on a first-qualified, first-served basis, according to a county press release on the grant program.

However, commissioners voted Thursday morning to inc...

Jim Little
 
| Pensacola News Journal

Wearing a mask in public indoor spaces is still required in the city of Pensacola after the City Council on Thursday unanimously rejected Mayor Grover Robinson’s proposal to end the mask mandate.

Robinson put forward a proposal to repeal an emergency ordinance that mandated wearing a mask in public indoor spaces in the city. 

The mayor argued that with the daily hospitalizations of COVID-19 patients below 50, it was time to repeal the ordinance.

He said he would bring the mandate back if the number of cases increased again and said it was akin to a hurricane warning.

“At this time, it’s like giving a mandate on a sunny day,” Robinson said.

He said he was worried that if cases increase again, the city would have no tools left to encourage the publi...

Colin Warren-Hicks
 
| Pensacola News Journal

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Despite President Donald Trump’s declaration that a major disaster exists in Florida from Hurricane Sally, Santa Rosa County remained illegible Thursday for two categories of federal aid that officials say are vital in helping with recovery efforts.

More: Hurricane Sally a ‘Major disaster’ but no individual assistance coming without public’s help

More: Mercy Chefs serve more than 25,000 meals to Pensacola in less than a week

The White House included Santa Rosa County among the 13 Florida counties in the disaster are...

Kevin Robinson
 
| Pensacola News Journal

At least seven spans of the Pensacola Bay Bridge will have to be partially or fully replaced due to damage from loose Skanska barges, but as of yet there is no timeline for the repairs, according to the Florida Department of Transportation.

Several barges owned by Skanska USA, the contractor leading a $400 million bridge replacement project, collided with the Pensacola Bay Bridge after coming unmoored during Hurricane Sally.

In a news release Thursday, FDOT said assessments of the damage to the structure are still ongoing, but that some of Skanska’s barges were still creating complications.

“Three of the contractor’s barges remain on or under the structure, and the removal of those barges will have to be done with great caution,” the release sa...

Jake Newby
 
| Pensacola News Journal

The U.S. Navy Blue Angels announced that the team will conduct a flyover throughout Pensacola on Friday to pay tribute to the resiliency of the community in the aftermath of Hurricane Sally. 

The flyover is scheduled for at 8 a.m. Friday. 

“I am very appreciative of the Blue Angels for this incredible show of support for the people of Pensacola as we begin the long recovery from Hurricane Sally,” Pensacola Mayor Grover Robinson said in a press release Thursday announcing the news. “This storm has impacted so many people in our community during a time when many of us were already facing challenging times, but I know we will recover. Pensacola is a strong, resilient community, and we will be even stronger once we get through this together.”

The Blue ...

Melissa Brown
 |  Pensacola News Journal

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A Gulf Breeze official on Wednesday said area cities are planning for a viable ferry service for “a period of months, if not a year” as unfavorable conditions have delayed a complete inspection of Pensacola Bay Bridge damage. 

Pensacola and Gulf Breeze have both identified sites for potential ferry docks. Both sustained some damage from Hurricane Sally last week, but city officials said Wednesday that repairs could be completed in a matter of weeks...

Pensacola News Journal
 |  Pensacola News Journal

The National Weather Service is warning Escambia and Santa Rosa residents of increased tornado threats over the next several hours.

A tornado warning was issued for west central Santa Rosa County and north-central Escambia County, which expired at 9:45 a.m. Thursday.

A severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located near Molino, or 12 miles north of Gonzalez, moving northeast at 15 mph, at 9 a.m. The NWS warns this tornadic thunderstorm will remain over mainly rural areas of west central Santa Rosa and north central Escambia counties.